A SANCAI-GLAZED POTTERY RUYI-SHAPED PILLOW
Liao/Jin dynasty, 11th-13th century
Decorated with a pair of geese, reeds and a river rock, the green and ochre glazes painted over a white slip with details picked out by incised lines, a black glaze which fills the ground, the straight sides glazed green and molded with 'tile' pattern, a small aperture to the back of pillow for firing, the base flat and unglazed revealing the red pottery body.
12in (30.8cm) wide
Footnotes:
遼或金 三彩刻花印花如意形陶枕

Provenance:
Uragami Sokyu-Do Co. Ltd, Tokyo, 30 March 2003

來源：
東京浦上蒼穹堂，2003年3月30日

A similar sancai-glazed red pottery ruyi-shaped pillow decorated with a song bird on top of a flowering branch is illustrated in Chinese Ceramic Pillows from Yeung Wing Tak Collection, The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, 1984, p. 57, no. 112.

Compare also the very similar Liao dynasty sancai pottery pillow from the collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth sold at Christie's, New York, 19 March 2015, lot 805.

PLEASE NOTE: This report describes, but may not be limited to, major condition issues for the lot.

Overall in good, original condition. Color is vibrant and the contrast is good - a sweet example of this type. Very fine crackle to the black and patches of iridescent to the green, which are typical characteristics to works of this kind. Glaze chips along the top edges of the pillow revealing the red pottery body; one large chip to the front lower edge approx. 2.5cm x 1cm x 0.8cm.